The Dezeen guide to kitchen layouts including peninsula, island and galley styles
Designing a kitchen? Our latest Dezeen guide explains eight of the most common kitchen layouts with links to lookbooks containing hundreds of examples to inspire you.
The one-wall kitchen is the simplest of layouts, featuring cabinets and countertops arranged along a single wall.
The arrangement takes up less floor space than other formations so is popular in both smaller interiors as well as in larger, open-plan spaces where the kitchen is integrated with a dining room or living room.
As the name suggests, L-shaped kitchens are arranged in the shape of the letter L with two countertops connected at a right angle.
The counters are often fitted into the corner of a kitchen, but can also have one countertop projecting out into the room to form a peninsula.
U-shaped kitchens are formed from a trio of worktops connected in the shape of an open rectangle.
One of the most popular kitchen layouts, the arrangement is often used in smaller homes as it creates an efficient work triangle with the stove, sink and refrigerator in close proximity.
Named after the narrow food preparation area on ships, galley kitchens contain two parallel rows of cabinets and countertops.
Another extremely popular layout, the arrangement works well in narrow spaces and, like the U-shaped kitchen, provides an efficient work triangle. In smaller homes, the galley layout is often combined with a dining area accessed by walking through the kitchen.
Shaped like the geographical feature they are named after, peninsulas extend out into a kitchen from a wall or work surface to create additional countertop and seating space.
The extended counters, which often double as a breakfast bar for casual dining, are often used in smaller kitchens that don't have space for a free-standing kitchen island.
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Many kitchens include a freestanding counter-height unit known as an island as it is separated from the walls of the kitchen.
Usually rectangular in shape, the unit usually contains additional storage below and extra preparation space on top. They can often double as a space for eating with the inclusion of a breakfast bar.
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Integrating a kitchen with an area for dining creates a multifunctional space for cooking, eating and socialising.
Combined kitchen dining rooms are popular in both large homes, where they can be used as an open space for entertaining, and in small homes, where they save space.
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Often incorporated into kitchen islands or peninsulas, breakfast bars are extensions of a countertop that can be used as an informal space to dine or socialise.
Breakfast bars often double as additional counter space making efficient use of space and can be an alternative to a dining table in a small home. They can also be used as handy desk space for those working from home.
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